Secondary weapons are typically ancillary pieces of equipment that augment your fighting, like shields, daggers, small swords, etc. If your primary weapon has a burden of one hand, it is recommended you also take a secondary weapon (but you can’t hold a secondary weapon if your primary weapon requires two hands). You can only hold one secondary weapon at a time, which goes in your secondary weapon slot. To find the list of starting secondary weapons, called Tier 1 Secondary Weapons, see “Secondary Weapon Tables.”

You can make an attack roll with either a primary or secondary weapon you have equipped, allowing for flexibility in the types of attacks you can make. The secondary weapon often also has a feature that augments another aspect of your fighting style as well—a dagger might grant you extra damage to targets you attack with your primary weapon in melee, a shield might add to your armor score, etc. Most adventurers will choose to at least carry a primary weapon, but you’re not required to. For guidance on fighting without a weapon, see “Unarmed Combat Rolls.”